Though the Confederate Marine Corps never numbered more than six hundred men at any point during the War, they profoundly contributed to the naval strength of the Confederacy. These Marines served the South by defending land-based resources and boarding enemy ships for hand-to-hand combat. The Corps later evolved into a “special forces” branch of the military, and undertook clandestine and perilous missions to capture Union ironclad ships.

The James River Squadron was responsible for guarding the river route to the Confederate capital, most notably in the Battle of Hampton Roads and at Drewry’s Bluff. They will be on hand to display and explain “torpedoes” which was a major weapons system used against the Union navy. Come visit them during this weekend encampment and find out what life was like for Confederate Marines and sailors during the Civil War.